Electric bell



(No Model.)

W. K. RAINEY;

ELECTRIC BELL. N0. 40Z,613. Patented Mflly 7, 1889.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KELLY RAINEY, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ELECTRIC BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,613, dated May '7, 1889. Application filed October 24, 1888. Serial No. 289,076. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KELLY RAINEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Bells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric bells of that class known as vibrating bells. This kind of bell is usually constructed so that when the circuit-closer or push-button is closed the circuit will be alternately completed and broken through the bell-magnets. These makes and breaks of the circuit cause injurious effects at the point where the breaks occur, by reason of the continuous sparkingproduced. To overcome the evil effects of sparking, platinum points and surfaces have been used where the break occurs.

It is the object of my invention to construct a vibrating bell in which there is no absolute break of the circuit, but instead the magnets are simply short-circuited.

To this end the invention consists in a main or battery circuit and a local circuit, including the bell-magnets. The local circuit is at quick intervals cut into the main circuit by the movements of the armature; but this operation simply consists in changing the path of the circuit without actually breaking it."

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a general view of the bell with a diagram of the circuits, and Fig. 2 represents details showing the manner of adjusting the parts.

The main circuit ct includes battery and circuit-closer. This circuit leads to the bell and terminates at posts a and a which terminals are properly insulated from each other. From a, the circuit branches, one branch leading through the magnets to the post a and the other through a spring-arm, b, to the post a The circuit through the magnets I call the local circuit.

The bell-magnets are represented by c, and theirarmature by c. The armature has a spring tailpiece, (shown in detail in Fig. 2,) provided Witha slot at its extremity. This tail-piece is fixed into a slotted post by a setscrew, and may be adjusted longitudinally for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The other entremity of the armature carries the belhhamme'r. The armature is also provided with a laterally-extending arm or finger, 0 having a tip of insulating material. The tip of this finger normally bears against the spring-strip b and holds it out of contact with the contact-point on posta The strip b is also slotted in a similar manner to the spring supporting the armature. By the use of these slots the two strips may be adjusted longitudinally wit-h respect to each other, so as to change the point at which the finger c impinges against the strip b. The location of this point determines the length of movement through which the armature plays, and also the degree of separation between the contact-point on post a and the contact on the end of stripb.

The operation of the bell is as follows, the normal position of the parts being as shown in the figure: When the main circuit is closed, a current is sent from battery to one of the posts a or a thence through the magnet to the other post, and back to battery. The mag- .nets being energized, draw up the armature and allow the contact-point of the spring I) to come in contact with the contact-point of post a This establishes a short circuit around the magnets, cutting them out of the main circuit, and allowing the armature to be thrown back by a spring in the .usual manner. The armature in falling back causes the arm or finger c to strike the strip 1) and open the short circuit, forcing the currents through the magnets again. This operation is continued so long as the circuit-closer or push-button in the main circuit is held closed. It will be observed that the flow of current is not interrupted at any point and that it is therefore impossible for sparking to take place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In an electric bell, an armature mounted to be adjustable longitudinally and adapted to swing laterally, in combination with a switch-arm, also adjustable longitudinally, and a'connection between said armature and switoh-arn1, whereby a movement of the armature will operate the switch-arm, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with post a and arm b, of the post M, the armature c, the arm 0 a slot for adjustment, substantially as dehaving a toe of insulating material, and the scribed.

main and local circuits, arranged substan- 'In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed tially as described. my name in the presence of two subscribing 5 3. In an electric bell, the combination, with Witnesses.

the magnets and armature, said armaturebe- 7 ing provided with a slot for purposes of ad- ILLIAM KELLY RAINEY' justment, and also carrying a laterally-pro- Witnesses:

j eating finger having a tip of insulated mate- WM. RENAUDIN,

1o rial, of a spring-strip, as 1;, also provided with JOSEPH DENNED. 

